Zipper stringer for fly systems and system employing same

ABSTRACT

Trouser fly system includes a zipper chain, the stringers of which have a bifurcated tape, each having a primary web carrying a line of fastener elements, and secondary webs attached to the apparel panels or guarding the lines of fasteners.

iJnited States Patent [191 [11] 3,827,685 Achermann [4 Aug. 6, 1974 [54]ZIPPER STRINGER FOR FLY SYSTEMS 2,084,499 6/1937 Newman 24 205.| R

AND SYSTEM EMPLOYING SAME 3,187,346 6/1965 Jacobson 2/234 [75] Inventor:Walter Thomas Ackermann,

Watertown, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Scoviil Manufacturing Company,

Waterbury, Conn. [22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 241,741

[52] US. Cl 2/234, 24/205.1 R, 24/205.16 R [51] Int. Cl. A41d 1/06, A44b19/34 [58] Field of Search 24/205 B, 205.1 R, 205.16 R, 24/205.l6 C;2/234 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,021,098 11/1935Craig 24/2051 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 301,613 12/1928 GreatBritain 2/234 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant ExaminerKennth J.Dorner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dallett Hqopes 5 7 ABSTRACT Trouser flysystem includes a zipper chain, the string' ers of which have abifurcated tape, each having a primary web carrying a line of fastenerelements, and secondary webs attached to the apparel panels or guardingthe lines of fasteners.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED 5 I974 1: PRIOR ART INVENTIONZIPPER STRINGER FOR FLY SYSTEMS AND SYSTEM EMPLOYING SAME This inventionrelates to a zipper stringer for fly systems and to the fly systemitself.

In the prior art, the most usual way to form a fly structure is detailedin FIG. 1 of the drawings. FIG. 1 is a horizontal section, lookingdownward, of a trouser fly. The structure has included the margin of theleft apparel panel LP and the margin of the right apparel panel RP. Asshown, the panel LP has formed a cover or guard for the zipper chain. Aleft underlying panel UP has one edge stitched in a sewn seam as at S tothe left panel LP. The other edge is formed with serge line G and isstitched thereadjacent in a seam S to the left panel resulting in adouble thickness adjacent the edge of the opening. Prior to thestitching of the underlying panel UP to the left panel LP, the left tapeof the zipper chain C is stitched in a double seam S S thereto. A guardpanel GP is formed for attachment to the right panel and includes afolded double-thickness fabric strip having one edge terminating in aserge 6,. In a single seam S the right tape RT of the chain C and guardpanel GP are stitched to comprise the right-hand structure of theopening 0. In summary, the structure involves five seam lines, two sergelines, four pieces of material (aside from the zipper tapes), and onefold.

The many-stepped process described above has been standard for years inmost of the industry. Minor simplifications have been occasionallyattempted, perhaps making one of the seam lines such as S also serve asS reducing a seam line and a sewing operation. However, for the mostpart, the pants industry has been satisfied to stick with the tried andtrue structure shown in FIG. 1.

Under the present invention, l have sharply reduced the number of stepsand the amount of material involved in a fly system with the result notonly of considerable saving of labor and expense, but markedly improvedsmoothness in the apparel structure, reducing the thickness of fabricand the bulk of material in the fly area.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled inthe art from a reading of the following specification, including thedrawings, all of which disclose, aside from FIG. 1, a preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the figures, FIG. 1 having already been described;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section, looking down, of an embodiment of theinvention in a pair of mens trousers;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a single zipper stringerembodying the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a section of zipper stringerembodying the invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the fly structure is generpanel 28, adjacent the opening in theapparel, has its margin stitched to the margin of the web 26 bystitching 27 as shown, and the web 24 has its margin stictched to thepanel 28 by stitching 29 spaced back from the opening.

The right stringer 30 has, prior to its crotch or bifurcation 32 of itsintegrally woven tape, a single-thickness primary web 34 to the end ofwhich is secured the row of fasteners 36. Beyond the bifurcation 32, thetape 30 comprises the two webs, a guard web 38 which serves to cover thefastener elements, and an anchor web 40. The anchor web 40 is attachedby stitching 41 to the right panel 46 adjacent its margin by a line ofstitching, as shown. The margin of panel 46 may be doubled under asshown.

Because the tapes of the stringers are woven, there is no need forserging along the distal edges of the tape legs.

It can thus be seen that the present invention involves a notableimprovement over the fly structure of the prior art, and the number ofoperations in manufacture are reduced by requiring in the new structureonly three seams, no serges, only two pieces beyond the tapes, and nofolds. This marked simplification at last answers the substantial andpersistent demand for reduction in labor and material costs. Theresigned acceptance for decades of the trouser industry to the structureof the prior art speaks for the unobviousness of the presentdevelopment.

Additionally, it should be noted in comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 that thetransmission of tension along the structure is more direct in FIG. 2because the tape 24 is connected directly with the front panel throughstitching 29. In the prior art showing FIG. 2, tension force is throughtwo lines of stitching S and S with the intermediate panel UP inbetween.The structure under the invention is, therefore, of greater strengththan the prior structure.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown, uncomplicated by the balanceof the fly structure, a zipper chain embodying the invention. Forsimplification, the chain shown is selected as the left chain shown inFIG. 2.

An essential element of the invention is the integrally woven flexiblefabric bifurcated tape wherein a flexible web, having at its margin theconventional zipper elements 16, is bifurcated at a distance spacedtherefrom to give a flexible single web 22.

It should be clear that the tape may be modified by having the legs ofvarious thickness. For instance, if the guard web 38 need be of greaterstiffness, the warp threads of this portion of the tape may be selectedof greater thickness than the balance of the warp threads in the otherlegs.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it encompasses theconcept described by the following claim language.

I'claim:

1. A fly system for closing an opening between the front panels of apair of pants comprising a pair of zipper stringers having intermeshedlines of fastener elements, each of the stringers having a tape which isintegrally woven and bifurcated at a distance spaced back on a primaryweb from the line of fastener elements to present a pair of web legs,the more rearward of the web legs in one of the stringers and the moreforward of the web legs in the other of the stringers extending ingenerally the same plane as the primary webs of the stringers and beingsewn to the front panels respectively adjacent the edges of the saidopening in first and second lines of stitching respectively, the morerearward of the web legs in the said other of the stringers extendingover against the rear of the intermeshed elements to serve as a guard,the more forward of the web legs in the said one of the stringersextending over against the front of the intermeshed elements, thelastmentioned web leg being covered by a covering extension of the frontpanel attached to said one of the stringers and the distal end of saidlast-mentioned web leg being sewn to the distal end of the extension ina third line of stitches disposed in a position not normally visiblefrom the front of the garment.

2. A fly system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the edge of the panel sewnto the said other of the stringers is doubled under so that the stitchesin said second line pass through the edge twice.

3. A fly system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the stitches in the secondline are normally covered by the covering extension.

4. In a pants fly system having a pair of front panels defining anopening between two adjacent portions, a pair of zipper stringers havingintermeshing fastener elements, the tapes of the stringers being sewnrespectively to the said portions of the panels to form a closure forthe opening, the improvement wherein one of the tapes is bifurcatedalong a line parallel to, but spaced back from, the fastener elements onsaid one tape to present an integrally woven tape having three webs, oneweb carrying the line of fastener elements positioned at the margin atone side of the opening, another web extending in the direction oppositethe first web and secured to one of the panels, the third web extendingin generally the same direction as the first web and covering the frontof the lines of fastener elements and having its distal edge connectedto the distal edge of an extension of the said one panel, the other tapebeing bifurcated, having integrally woven therewith a single thicknesscover flap adapted to lie against the rear of the lines of fastenerelements.

1. A fly system for closing an opening between the front panels of apair of pants comprising a pair of zipper stringers having intermeshedlines of fastener elements, each of the stringers having a tape which isintegrally woven and bifurcated at a distance spaced back on a primaryweb from the line of fastener elements to present a pair of web legs,the more rearward of the web legs in one of the stringers and the moreforward of the web legs in the other of the stringers extending ingenerally the same plane as the primary webs of the stringers and beingsewn to the front panels respectively adjacent the edges of the saidopening in first and second lines of stitching respectively, the morerearward of the web legs in the said other of the stringers extendingover against the rear of the intermeshed elements to serve as a guard,the more forward of the web legs in the said one of the stringersextending over against the front of the intermeshed elements, thelast-mentioned web leg being covered by a Covering extension of thefront panel attached to said one of the stringers and the distal end ofsaid last-mentioned web leg being sewn to the distal end of theextension in a third line of stitches disposed in a position notnormally visible from the front of the garment.
 2. A fly system asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the edge of the panel sewn to the said otherof the stringers is doubled under so that the stitches in said secondline pass through the edge twice.
 3. A fly system as claimed in claim 2wherein the stitches in the second line are normally covered by thecovering extension.
 4. In a pants fly system having a pair of frontpanels defining an opening between two adjacent portions, a pair ofzipper stringers having intermeshing fastener elements, the tapes of thestringers being sewn respectively to the said portions of the panels toform a closure for the opening, the improvement wherein one of the tapesis bifurcated along a line parallel to, but spaced back from, thefastener elements on said one tape to present an integrally woven tapehaving three webs, one web carrying the line of fastener elementspositioned at the margin at one side of the opening, another webextending in the direction opposite the first web and secured to one ofthe panels, the third web extending in generally the same direction asthe first web and covering the front of the lines of fastener elementsand having its distal edge connected to the distal edge of an extensionof the said one panel, the other tape being bifurcated, havingintegrally woven therewith a single thickness cover flap adapted to lieagainst the rear of the lines of fastener elements.